Quick Reference

Exploration

• “Exploration turns” last ten times longer than combat turns.
• Each character takes a single complex action or two simple actions during a turn (e.g., one attack or two moves).

Encounters

1. Surprise? Base chance of 1–2 in 6. Roll for both sides.
2. Encounter distance (if not dictated by environment) is the sum of surprise rolls × 10′.
3. Anyone surprised stands frozen for a turn. Anyone not surprised declares an action:
   • Evasion (referee asks: “Do you run away?”)
   • Fire missiles
   • Close to melee
   • Parley
   • Other
4. Check monster (re)action with any situational modifiers
5. Roll initiative (d6 per side)
6. Repeat each turn as appropriate:
   1. Check morale of non-player characters, hirelings, monsters
   2. Missile fire
   3. Melee

Monster (Re)actions

Monster reactions may be modified by the situation, rumors about the player characters, bribes, player character charisma, allegiances or antipathies with other dungeon factions, etc.

Morale

• The referee decides when to check morale (e.g., after the first death).
• The referee rolls 2d6 to test morale.
• A result of 6+ means they stay in the fight.
• Remember to add the loyalty modifier when checking morale for henchmen.

Attack Bonus

Damage

• Most weapons do 1d6 damage on a successful hit.
• A fighter wielding a martial weapon, such as a longsword, does 1d8 damage.
• A fighter with a two-handed weapon, such as a polearm, deals 1d10 damage.
• A fighter wielding two weapons also makes one attack roll for d10 damage.

Death

At <= 0 hp roll Death or Dismemberment (d12 - hit point deficit).

Re-roll if already fully dismembered in the way described.

Armor, Encumbrance, Wandering Monsters

• Armor is the primary factor for encumbrance and movement.
• Hauling something bulky or heavy, drops movement to the next lower movement tier.
• Every 400 coins of treasure carried drops movement by one tier.

Armor Class Conversion

Evasion and Pursuit

Players chasing monsters:

• Faster player characters always overtake slower monsters.
• Faster monsters always escape slower characters.

Monsters chasing players:

• Monsters chase fleeing characters on a “hostile” result on the Monster (Re)actions table.
• Monsters never catch fleeing adventurers.
• Characters wind up 1–3 moves from where the chase began, at a place picked by the referee.
• When evading slower monsters, players chose the cardinal direction where the chase ends.
• When evading faster monsters, the referee rolls rolls the cardinal direction in secret, and the players must reorient themselves.

Saving Throws

To make a save, the target must equal or exceed its saving throw score with a d20 roll.

Ability Score Bonuses

Class Abilities

• A cleric may swap out any prepared spell for a Turn Undead or Cure Light Wounds spell at any point during play.
• Elves ignore aging and fear effects, Sleep, Charm, Hold, and ghoul paralysis.
• Dwarves make saving throws with a +4 bonus.
• Dwarves know about stonework, gems, engineering, and metalwork.
• On 1–2 in 6, dwarves notice secret doors simply by passing near them.